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Transition Generation

1600's Onward | Citizenship Certificate

Brennecke Driving Tour | Military | Thanks | Family Notes

German Churches

Brennecke in the News

Chapter A - Heinrich "August" Julius Brennecke

Chapter B - Heinrich (Henry) Ludwig Brennecke

Chapter C - Georg August Friedrich Brennecke

Chapter D - Carl August Friedrich (Fred) Brennecke

Chapter E - Georg Friedrich Wilhelm (William) Brennecke

Chapter F - Hanna Justine Louisa (Louise) Brennecke

Chapter G - Johann Heinrich Christian Carl (Charles) Brennecke (our line)

Chapter H - Johanna Caroline Friedrike Brennecke

Chapter I - George (Schoose) H. Brennecke

Chapter J - Johann Franklin (Frank) Brennecke

Chapter K - Johann Jacob (Jake) Brennecke


DEDICATION

This 2002 Brennecke Family History is dedicated in memory of the late Herbert Alvin Schaper who was born November 4, 1908. He was the son of Louis and Anna (Brennecke) Schaper, grandson of Jacob and Henrietta (Peetz) Brennecke, and great grandson of August and Wilhelmine Brennecke. Herb was the pioneer member of the Brennecke family to become interested in family genealogy. He began collecting information and filing it away many years ago; he read the Southeast Missourian daily and the Cash Book Journal weekly and clipped out articles pertaining to any relative of the family. He didn't miss a marriage, a new birth, or a death as well as any news item about relatives. His nieces have said that Herb was always interested in the family; he loved them and their children. This may have inspired him to begin searching and recording family history and genealogy.

 

Herb was a victim of polio at 8 months of age; his left arm and leg were paralyzed. He gained the use of his leg as the result of being placed in a walker. His parents, at that time, did not realize that was the very best physical therapy he could have had. He did not regain use of his arm but did not let it bother him; he wanted people to ignore the fact he could not use that arm.

 

In his early years while living with his parents on the farm, he was a gardener - partly with his mother and some entirely on his own. He became a truck farmer in the summers and took his produce to town and sold to businesses and individuals. He also went into the shrubbery business - first on the farm and later on Highway 25 where he lived with his mother and close to his brother Elmer. He also had a hobby collecting Indian Artifacts from Hubble Creek.

 

After graduating from Jackson High School in 1927, Herb enrolled at Southeast Missouri State College in Cape Girardeau; he went to school mostly in the summers and at first stayed with an aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Julius Schaper, who lived in the town. He soon began teaching in rural schools and would attend college each summer until he received his B.S. Degree in Education. We are not exactly sure how many years he actually taught but believe it was 35 years or more. He had attended Poplar Ridge Elementary School and came back to teach there, as well as at Campster, Sandy Ridge, McFerron, Sedgewickville, and Jackson R-2 School District at Gordonville - the last school where he taught. He was employed there as a teacher in 1955; the next year and the following 16 years he was also the principal. He retired from Jackson R-2 School in 1972 after being there 17 years. Herb was a disciplinarian but still loved his school "kids", was well respected, and had some very good students academically.

 

Herb was interested in so many things and was involved in many of them while he was also teaching. He never married, so spent time working on special projects in the afternoons and evenings, during the summer, and after retirement. He was very good at woodworking and adapted his machinery so as to be able to use his one hand. He made many, many pieces of furniture: large spinning wheels, tables, a floor lamp with table, plant stands, a china cabinet, and many more. These pieces of furniture are now the proud possessions of his nieces and nephews.

 

I found Herb to be a very kind, friendly, and loving person. Even though we were cousins and had known each other for years, I "really" got to know and appreciate him when I began working with him on the 1977 Brennecke Family History. I had just retired from teaching at Jackson High School in 1976; he had retired in 1972. He asked me if I would help him finish the Family History and I agreed. We spent time together visiting relatives and also in his home putting the final touches to the book. After typing the book, we had it published, and then met with many family members in his home to assemble the pages. Our close relationship remained after the book was published; I visited him and we had him in our home on special occasions. I continued visiting with him at the Deal Nursing Home in Jackson when he could no longer live alone in his home.

Friends outside of the family were also important to Herb. For many years he and friends took a trip in the summers to interesting places throughout the United States.

 

Herb died March 16, 1997, at the Nursing Home after more than 88 years as a teacher, researcher, historian, genealogist, master craftsman of woodworking, machinist, gardener, and in the nursery business.

 

If Herbert A. Schaper had not used his time and talents many years ago searching for family history, there would not have been a Brennecke Family History published in 1977. He realized the history was not complete, however, and urged others to seek further information - especially the early life of the August and Wilhelmine family in Germany. The late Carl Penzel and Mr. and Mrs. Norman Brennecke pursued Herb's dream and traveled to Germany in the 1980s and found the early records of that family in St. Martin's Church in Sebexen, Germany. Herb was very grateful for their new "findings" and also grateful for Mr. and Mrs. Norman Brennecke publishing the 1988 edition of the Brennecke Family History with the new information. He would have also been proud of this 2002 Edition of the Brennecke Family History that has been published by Mrs. Keith (Cheryl) Brennecke of Cape Girardeau and is being distributed during this July 12-13, 2002, Brennecke Family Reunion at the Zion United Methodist Church, Gordonville, Mo.

 

(The above article was written by Doris [Brennecke] Davault with added information from Louise [Schaper] Milde [Herb's sister], nieces Mary Lou [Milde] Talley and Karen [Schaper] McCullough)

 

The History of our Brennecke History Book

A special thanks is extended to Herbert Schaper, who "got the ball rolling" for the first Brennecke History book. Without him, we would not have the many editions of the book we have today. He compiled the information for the 1977 Brennecke History book, printed by Cash Book Printing and Advertising. Herbert gathered all the early information and wrote the stories. Doris Davault joined him in the last year of the book production and she typed the entire book on an electric typewriter, there weren't any computers in 1977! Herbert and Doris also traveled around to the descendants homes to gather further information. The cost of the book was about $5.00.

 

In 1983, Norman & Marlene Brennecke traveled to Germany and were able to obtain information about names, birth dates, and other facts not previously known. Carl Penzel also traveled to Germany in 1983, but was unsuccessful in digging up any new information. At the 1984 reunion, Norman presented a slide show and told of the area at Goslar, Germany, and other towns in the beautiful Harz mountain area where the Brenneckes lived before coming to America. Slides were also shown of the Dr. Marvin Brennecke beach in Hawaii.

 

In 1986, Carl Penzel showed slides of his trip to Germany, where he was able to find records of the Eickemeier-Brennecke family dating back to the mid-1600s. Also in 1986, Norman Brennecke told of his findings of family records of the oldest son of August and Wilhelmine Brennecke, who remained in Germany.

 

In 1988, the second edition of the Brennecke History was published. Recognition is given to Norman and Marlene Brennecke, Doris Davault, Herbert Schaper, and Carl L. Penzel for their work in the revision of the history book. Norman was the Editor-in-chief and Publication Product Editor, overseeing the process of carrying over most of the previous material from 1977 book and adding to it vast amounts of new information on German ancestors and relatives. New information in the book included the on-location research in Germany by Norman and Carl Penzel, new descendant updates and photos gathered by Doris Davault, updated charts, the family crest, the descendant surname flowcharts in front of each chapter, and upgrading of some of the translations of letters. Norman wrote the new articles, reorganized the chapters, and hired a typist to input all the text into a computer. He and his wife, Marlene, produced the final charts and graphics, printed a master text copy into which the photos and charts were hand-pasted, and hired Rockwall Printing Co., Rockwall Texas, to produce collated printed copies. The Cape ladies bound them with yarn and sold and distributed them. The 1988 book consists of 250 pages. Two Hundred and Fifty books were printed at the cost of $2,637.20. Books were sold for $10.00 plus $1.25 for postage if mailing the book to the buyer was required.

 

At the 1992 reunion, Norman Brennecke again presented a slide show presentation and answered questions about the area and his experiences.

 

In 1994, Carl Penzel began inputting our genealogy information onto the Family Tree Maker software and Gina King Cato continued entering and finished the data. A computer printout from Family Tree Maker was available for the cost of $5.00 at the 1996 reunion. Cheryl Brennecke has continued inputting additional information and updates as they come in.

 

In 1998, Cheryl Brennecke volunteered to begin working on a new history book, but was unable to find the time until November 2001. Advanced technologies makes her job much easier than those before her History continues.and as Herb Schaper wrote, "should not be a closed book."

 

Past Officers of the Brennecke Family Reunion Committee

Compiled from Minutes & Newspaper Clippings
(Note: Officers were elected at the year prior to their posting)

1st -1975 (Annual)
Initiator: Herb Schaper
Initiator: Louise Schaper Milde
Initiator: Doris Brennecke Davault
Initiator: Alene Neumeyer
Master of Ceremonies: Mr. Hughes Davault
Secretary/Treasurer: Alene Birk

 

2nd-1976 (Annual)
President: George Penzel
Secretary/Treasurer: Alene Birk

 

3rd-1977 (Annual)
President: Harold Lee Kasten
Secretary/treasurer: Louis Milde
Historian: Herb Schaper

 

4th-1978 (Annual)
President: Harold Lee Kasten
Vice-president: Glenn Neumeyer
Secretary/treasurer: Kathy Goodson
Historian: Herb Schaper
Historian: Doris Davault

 

5th-1979 (Annual)
President: Glenn Neumeyer
Vice-president: Kathy Goodson
Secretary/treasurer: Carmen Below

 

6th-1980 (Annual)
President: Kathy Goodson
Vice-president: Carmen Below
Secretary/treasurer: Kim Nothdurft

 

7th1982 (Biannual)
President: Carmen Below
Vice-president: Miriam Wallenmeyer
Secretary/treasurer: Kathryn Miller

 

8th-1984 (Biannual)
President: Kathryn Miller
Vice-president: Frank Steck
Secretary/treasurer: Miriam Wallenmeyer

 

9th-1986 (Biannual)
President: Frank Steck
Vice-president: Carl Penzel
Secretary/treasurer: Mary Milde Talley

 

10th-1988 (Biannual)
President: Mary Talley
Vice-president: Grace Wille
Secretary/treasurer: Brenda Neumeyer

 

11th-1990 (Biannual)

President: Brenda Neumeyer
Vice-president: Grace Wille
Secretary/treasurer: Brenda Woemmel

 

12th-1992 (Biannual)
President: Brenda Neumeyer
Vice-president: Tom Steck
Secretary/treasurer: Brenda Woemmel

 

13th-1994 (Biannual)
President: Tom Neumeyer
Vice-president: Tom Steck
Secretary/treasurer: Kay Story

 

14th-1996 (Biannual)
President: Tom Neumeyer
Vice-president: Joyce King
Secretary/treasurer: Kay Story

 

14th-1998 (Biannual)
President: Kay Story
Vice-president: Joyce King
Secretary/treasurer: Cheryl Brennecke

 

15th-2000 (Biannual)
President: Kay Story
Vice-president: Joyce King
Secretary/treasurerC: heryl Brennecke

 

16th-2002 (Biannual)
President: Kay Story
Vice-president: Joyce King
Secretary/treasurer: Cheryl Brennecke

 

Reunion Awards & Attendance

Compiled from Minutes & Newspaper Clippings

1975
No awards mentioned in minutes
Attendance-over 200

 

1976
Traveling the Farthest: Carol LaRue and infant son Bobby, of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Attendance-150

 

1977
Traveling the Farthest: George Brennecke of Los Angeles, CA
Traveling the Farthest: Carol LaRue and daughter of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Youngest Member Present: Karel Neumeyer (3 days old), daughter of Tom and Linda Neumeyer
Attendance-about 130

 

1978
Traveling the Farthest: Waldo & Marie Brennecke of St. Louis, MO
Attendance-about 60

 

1979
Traveling the Farthest: Carol LaRue of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Oldest Descendant Present: Henry Sanders (age 84)
Attendance-92

 

1980
No awards mentioned in minutes
Attendance-71

 

1982
Traveling the Farthest: Carol LaRue and children of Amman, Jordan
Traveling the Farthest: Dr. Marvin Brennecke of Kauai, Hawaii
Traveling the Farthest: Mr. & Mrs. Webster Davault and family of Fort Worth, TX
Oldest Descendant Present: Frieda Neumeyer (age 89)
Attendance-over 90

 

1984
Traveling the Farthest: Dorothy Ahmann of Bakersfield, CA
Oldest Descendant Present: Frieda Neumeyer (age 88 in September) (Hmmm...she got younger!)
Youngest Descendant Present: Son of Gretta Steck Miller (5 months old) of St. Louis, MO
Attendance-85

 

1986
Traveling the Farthest: Dorothy Ahmann of Bakersfield, CA
Oldest Descendant Present: John Deneke
Youngest Descendant Present: Julie Deneke, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. James Deneke of Gordonville
Attendance-104

 

1988
Traveling the Farthest: Dorothy Flores of Bakersfield, CA
Oldest Descendant Present: Clara Kiehne (age 90)
Youngest Descendant Present: Ashley Steck (1 yr old) daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Steck
Attendance-93

 

1990
Traveling the Farthest: Cathy Kelso of California
Oldest Descendant Present: Emma Sander (age 89)
Youngest Descendant Present: Ryan Christopher Kenkel (11 months)
Attendance-87

 

1992
Oldest Descendant Present
with the Brennecke name: Bob Brennecke
Youngest Descendant Present: Mason K. Brennecke (4 months)
Oldest Descendant Present: Irene Gilliland
Married the Longest Present: Mr. & Mrs. Roy Deneke
Married most recently Present: Mr. & Mrs. George Below
Most Children PresentMr. & Mrs. Keith Brennecke
Most GrandchildrenCarmen Below
Persons who had attended
all reunions: Doris Davault, Hughes Davault, Carmen Below
(The 1992 reunion was the first one that Herb Schaper had missed.)
Persons attending their 1st reunion: Mr. & Mrs. Bill Syler, Lloyd Brennecke, Francis Baird, Don Neumeyer
Traveling the Farthest: Dorothy Ahmann
Attendance-54

 

1994
Oldest Descendant Present: Irene Gilliland
Youngest Descendant Present: Ethan Scheffer
Traveling the Farthest: Matthew Davault came 1,000 miles from Saratosa, Florida
Attending the Most Reunions: Louise Milde, Hugh & Doris Davault, Roy & Melba Deneke
Champion Grandmother: Irene Gilliland
Champion Grandfather: Howard Brennecke
Most Children Present: Irene Gilliland
Married the Longest Present: Carl Penzel's with 63 years
Most Recently Married Present: Rick & Kelly Wolfenkohler
Family Branch with
Most in Attendance: Caroline's Branch (Roy Deneke accepted the
certificate on behalf of the family.
Tallest Descendant: Albert Ross and Albert Deneke (6' 2")
Most Active Grandchild: Nathan Kenkel and Mason Brennecke
Attendance-54

 

1996
Oldest Descendant Present: Irene Gilliland (90 yrs.)
Youngest Descendant Present: Carissa Prater (22 months)
Traveling the Farthest: Beckie Sullivan from Virginia
Traveling the Farthest: Charles Groves came 840 miles from Boulder Junction, Wisconsin
Champion Grandfather: Howard Brennecke
Champion Grandmother: Irene Gilliland
Most Children Present: Keith & Cheryl Brennecke
Most Recently Married: Steve and Jean Cato
Family Branch with Most in Attendance: Caroline's Branch (Certificate given to Roy and Melba Deneke)
Tallest Descendant Present: Albert Ross, Albert Denecke, Don Neumeyer (6'2")
Most Generations Present: Katherine Kelso (4 generations)
Persons attending their 1st reunion: Betty & Jerry Statler, Jim Sanderson, Diane Crader, Ashley Wooters, and Becky Sullivan, Jamie Prater, Diane Prater, Cathy Mohapp, Ashley Wooters, Candice Mohapp, & Carissa Prater
Attendance-52

 

1998
Oldest Descendant Present: Nora Neumeyer (87 years)
Youngest Descendant Present: Amanda Hall (7 months)
Most Children Present: Keith & Cheryl Brennecke (3 children)
Traveling the Farthest: Caroline Rethmier (650 miles)
Champion Grandmother: Melba Deneke
Champion Grandfather: Roy Deneke
Married the Longest: Melba & Roy Deneke (59 years)
Most Recently Married: Christy Hall (4 years, 9 months)
Family Branch with Most in Attendance: Caroline's Branch (Certificate given to Roy and Melba Deneke)
Tallest Descendant: Neil Baird (6'3")
Attendance-58

 

2000
Oldest Descendant Present: Hughes Davault (84 years)
Youngest Descendant Present: Mason Brennecke (8 years)
Most Children Present: Keith & Cheryl Brennecke (3 children)
Traveling the Farthest: Anna May & Leonard Leubker (582 miles from Fremont, NE
Married the Longest: Hughes & Doris Davault (59 years)
Most Recently Married: Tom & Terri Neumeyer (12 years)
Family Branch with Most in Attendance: Caroline's Branch (Certificate given to Roy and Melba Deneke)
Tallest DescendantAlbert Ross (6'2")
Attendance-43

 

2002

 

2004

 

2006

 

2008

 

2010

 

2012 - No reunion was held

 

A Thanks to All Descendants

There are many names listed above. However, many are not. Without the contributions, help, and encouragement of many of our Brennecke descendants, these history books would be impossible. We acknowledge the major contributors to the 1988 book as listed in the book. We give accolades to every person who ever submitted an update or a picture, or even just attended a reunion. Your support is important and viable to this ongoing project. Raise your hand up high, bend your elbow, and give yourself a pat on the back!

 

Copyright Cheryl Rutledge-Brennecke
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